Commotion: Fauci's Take on Double Masking
The Claim
Note: Misbar recently investigated a similar claim here. Due to reader request, this investigation goes further into Dr. Fauci’s response to the claim.
Dr. Fauci has proposed wearing two masks and argued against it shortly thereafter.
News posted on
Emerging story
The claim went viral in early February 2021.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar's investigation fouond that a majority of mask-wearers probably aren’t wearing N95 masks – they’re wearing simple ones out of cloth or paper. These masks are less effective, but they work well enough to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Dr. Fauci, chief medical officer to both Trump and Biden, has recently proposed doubling up on masks. This, he argued, may lead to a significant reduction in transmission via droplets. A few days later, he backtracked on his statement, saying that there’s no evidence to suggest that double masking would work. Other doctors complicated matters, some even claiming that double masking can increase airflow and the subsequent spread of droplets.
This has led to a great deal of confusion. Should we double up on masks? Does it just make it worse?
Note that we here at Misbar aren’t legally qualified to give medical advice. However, we can look at Fauci’s words.
He never officially advocated for wearing two masks. Instead, he said in an interview that common sense dictates that two masks are better than one. More specifically, he said that it “couldn’t hurt.” He later said that the CDC will conduct further research to see if double masking is effective. This research hasn’t come up with any solid conclusions, so both the CDC and Dr. Fauci aren’t currently recommending double masking. This information may change, however.
